NOTE: This is a “reprint” of my blog post to Kodak’s previous “A Thousand Words” blog.
There’s something mesmerizing and often delightful about being able to freeze an action moment in time – that split second moment that even your brain can hardly recall. How much “air” can you really catch on a bike or on a sled? Capture that moment, and a picture can tell the story. Two of my favorite action shots are included in this entry. The first picture is of my nephew Ross flying high while sledding in Tahoe. The second is a picture of my nephew Grant “catching some air” while testing out his new bike ramp.
Trying to capture an action shot with your digital camera can be challenging and frustrating. One of the main reasons for missing an action shot can be due to shutter delay – that delay between the time you press the button and the moment that the picture is actually captured. On some digital cameras, this delay can be significant. Although many newer digital cameras are addressing this issue, it can still be a problem. Another issue is good ol’ human reaction time. Even if you owned a camera with zero shutter delay, your finger might not react quickly enough to capture those faster moments such as your son pitching in little league. Is the situation hopeless? Not at all. With just a little know how and practice, you too can become a digital action photographer!
While there are no guarantees, here are some tips to help you out:
- Use the “Sport” mode: many recent cameras have a “Sport” or “Action” shot mode. This mode typically presets camera settings to be optimized for action shots, thereby increasing your chances of getting a good shot.
- Use the “Burst” mode: many cameras also have a “Burst” or “Multi-Shot” mode. In this mode, you hold the shutter button down and the camera captures a number of pictures in rapid succession. For example, on the Kodak V550, you can capture up to 5 pictures at a time, at a rate of 3 pictures per second. This helps to address issues related to delayed reaction time.
- Follow your subject with your camera: as the action is taking place, frame your subject and move the camera along with the subject as you are capturing the picture. This is a technique referred to as “panning” your camera with your subject.
- Shoot before the shot: try to anticipate your shot and press the button just before the shot you really want; this will help address issues with shutter delay.
So what about me, what do I do and how did I capture that biking and sledding picture? I always use “burst” mode and pan my camera with the subject. I also try to remember to anticipate my shot. In general, it usually takes me lots of attempts and I end up deleting a number of pictures that do not turn out. Sometimes my nephews get exhausted before I do. But, practice helps and when I do capture “that one shot” it’s all worth it in the end!
Do you have a cool action shot to share? Add a link to the comment section or submit your picture to Kodak’s Picture of the Day.